US government posts $160 bn surplus in April

(Washington) – The US federal government posted a $160 billion budget surplus in April, according to data released by the Treasury Department.

The Treasury said federal spending in April was $375 billion, up 27 percent from the same month in 2018, while receipts were $536 billion, up 5 percent compared with April 2018.

Treasury said both receipts and outlays were records.

When adjusted for calendar effects, the surplus in April was $158 billion versus $169 billion the prior April.

The deficit for the fiscal year to date was $531 billion, compared with $385 billion in the comparable period the year earlier. The adjusted results showed the deficit at $533 billion in the current fiscal year and $434 billion in the prior period.